Rockwall veterans business group relaunches with state support, networking event

Rockwall veterans who own businesses, manage nonprofits, or want to hire veteran talent now have a clearer entry point into the local Chamber network. The Rockwall Veterans Business Alliance has relaunched under the Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce with membership open to current and prospective chamber partners who are veterans or who want to do business specifically with veterans.

The alliance is built around a practical goal: connecting veteran-owned and veteran-managed businesses to commerce, growth, education, awareness, mentorship, collaboration and opportunity in Rockwall County. The Chamber lists RVBA partner pricing at $50 and non-partner pricing at $100, a relatively low-cost way for small firms and service providers to plug into a veteran-focused business circle.

That relaunch also brought state support into the room. State Rep. Katrina Pierson’s office joined the first meet-up of the year, and Texas Veterans Commission Secretary Chuck Wright discussed resources for businesses and nonprofits that serve veterans. Pierson represents Texas House District 33, which includes Rockwall County, and her district office is at 101 East Rusk Street, Suite 201, in Rockwall. Her legislative portfolio includes Homeland Security, Public Safety and Veterans’ Affairs, along with public health work.

The Chamber promoted the relaunch with an April 1 event at 11 a.m., followed by networking on the square. The event featured a Texas Veterans Commission speaker who was slated to share veteran benefits and resources tailored for business owners and for people supporting veterans. For local firms looking for employees, customers or partners, that kind of direct access to state-level veteran resources can make the alliance more than a ceremonial club; it can function as a practical pipeline for staffing, referrals and outreach.

The group had also been seeking volunteers for an RVBA Advisory Committee to help plan, schedule and execute the program of work for the coming year, with applications due by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4. That volunteer structure suggests the Chamber wants the alliance shaped by the people it is meant to serve: veteran entrepreneurs, Chamber partners and local businesses that want a stronger connection to the veteran community in Rockwall.